NatNews

We live in a society in which many people frequently describe their lives as “busy,” and it seems like not much ever slows down. With mounds of work and so many activities on people’s plates, it can be tough to keep one’s energy levels up all throughout the day.

For Dallas resident MK Kruczek, the ability to maintain her energy directly correlates with her overall lifestyle.

“Making sure I am getting the perfect amount of sleep is the biggest factor,” she said. “My sweet spot is seven to eight hours of sleep. If I am getting too much or too little, it feels impossible to maintain my energy. Next, eating a big breakfast and lots of snacks throughout the day is another key part of my energy levels. Eating nutritious foods like fruits, protein, etc. helps me a lot.”

In addition to fueling one’s body with proper nutrients, an individual can greatly benefit from exercising on a regular basis. According to Harvard Medical School, exercise helps people sleep better, provides cells more energy to burn, circulates oxygen, and can lead to higher brain dopamine levels (which helps put people in more pleasant moods). Dallas-area resident Steve Bergsman said in order to maintain his energy, he avoids heavy carb-loaded meals throughout the day and ensures that he’s leading an active lifestyle.

“Having a decent level of physical fitness helps me to avoid getting worn out by daily chores,” he said. “More than anything, doing something physical during the day provides a chance for me to escape mentally as well as elevate my mood.”

Kruczek said exercise plays a significant role in the fullness of her energy tank, particularly because of the way it affects not only her overall physical wellbeing but also her mental health.

“When I don’t work out, all of my hormones and neurochemicals get out of whack,” she said. “Regularly exercising increases my dopamine (happy hormones) and reduces my cortisol levels (stress hormone). Overall, it flushes out the bad stuff and gives me an endorphin boost—which helps me stay energized throughout my days.”

For Dallas resident Erasmo Estrada, exercise allows him to take part in a variety of other activities that might require exerting at least a little bit of effort. He made it clear, though, that some activities are simply off the list.

“My favorite part of being physically active is its role in my non-exercise moments of life and not zapping my energy for them,” he said. “Walk up three sets of stairs? No problem. Random two-hour hike? Might be tiring but not debilitating. My wife and I take our dog on a walk every evening, and having the energy for that is very important to me. Need to help a friend move? Hire a mover—we’re over 30 years old now.”

Bergsman said if his Oura Ring indicates that he might be getting sick, then he will forgo physical activity and try to get some rest. Otherwise, he enjoys working out in some capacity.

“There is nothing more cathartic than a good sweat,” he said. “So, a solid run, a CrossFit workout, or a lift are all welcome activities. The endorphins and the break from whatever is on my mind allow me to escape, which provides me with a pick-me-up.”

Estrada said in addition to exercise, he makes sure that he avoids drinking caffeine after 12 p.m., doesn’t overeat (unless it’s BBQ), and gets plenty of sleep (which is eight hours for him). On days when he’s not feeling that energetic, he said he accepts it as part of the human experience and tries to sneak in a little extra rest.

“If it’s a Saturday or Sunday, and I’m tired enough, I will take a nap and most times set my alarm for 30 minutes,” he said. “I don’t necessarily even fall asleep most of the time, but I feel much more restored than if I was on my phone doom scrolling for 30 minutes, because it’s keeping my brain too active.”

When Kruczek feels like she’s lacking energy, she goes through what she refers to as her three-point checklist to see what changes she needs to make.

“I start with 1. Have I eaten?” she said. “If not, I eat a good meal. Then I move on to 2. Have I seen the sun? If not, I get myself outside and feel infinitely better. Sometimes I go on a long walk, or if I want to be lazy, I sit at the park and read. Lastly, 3. I force myself to go cycle. If I’m already down and blah, I really don’t want to go do intense cardio, but I know there’s a 90-percent chance it will make me feel better. Being around the people at Fit Social Club and getting an endorphin high solves all of my problems.”

Some $1 bills are known as “star notes.” If a mistake or defect is discovered on a $1 bill after it has been printed, it’s destroyed, and a new bill is issued in its place. To note that it is a replacement bill, a star appears after the serial number.

In 1992, Gary Chapman released a book titled The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate, which outlines five different ways—acts of service, gift-giving, physical touch, quality time, and words of affirmation—that individuals express and experience love. Since then, many people have used the principles of the book and the concept of love languages to help them improve their relationships.

Chapman suggests that it’s human nature for people to express love in the ways they prefer to receive it but that there will be more effective communication and better overall relationships between individuals when they are able to show love to the people around them in the love languages the recipients need and desire. Dallas-area resident Scott Manis said he believes that knowing these preferences of others is essential.

“It’s very important that we understand the love languages of the people in our lives (particularly spouses) if we want to have great relationships,” he said.

For Dallas area resident Kim Endo-Campbell, showing other people love in the ways they best receive it is important to her. However, as a result of difficult aspects of her life during her childhood and adolescent years, she is not as concerned with others understanding what her top love languages are.

“I learned not to set expectations, as they may not come to fruition, anyway, or I’ll get frustrated when it’s in one ear and out the other,” she said. “My husband has been great, though, and is helping me rewire some of this.”

Dallas area resident Stephanie Graham, on the other hand, said it is important to her that the people with whom she surrounds herself know her love languages because that will help build and strengthen each relationship she has.

“Most of the people around me know that when I’m sad, I don’t need anything other than some love and empathy,” she said. “My fiancé knows that I feel more loved when he makes me feel appreciated every day rather than just buying me flowers every day. I think it’s important that the people you surround yourself with know these things so that you can have deeper relationships with each other.”

Graham also said that if a person isn’t receiving love the way he or she is craving, it makes it much more difficult for that individual to give love back to the other person in the way he or she needs it.

“To be real, Hayden and I will talk about how if there is a week I’m not really receiving my words of affirmation, it just so happens that I’m not giving love to him as much in his love language,” she said. “I feel like when you both are reciprocating that love, it allows y’all to be on the same wavelength and have a better relationship.”

Dallas resident Eric Napple said understanding people’s love languages is most important with significant others, but he has learned that it comes in handy with his closest friends and even with his dog.

“The people you appreciate in life should know what makes you tick and brings out your heart,” he said. “You should know that about them, too. It helps in communication, and it helps develop all relationships that you want to open up to. If you know a person’s love language, you should work on those aspects.”

Endo-Campbell said because of the struggles she faced growing up, she has a strong desire to know and meet the love languages of people who matter most in her life.

“I want others to have what I didn’t,” she said. “It’s mainly my husband that I do this for, as he is a quality time and physical touch guy. I altered my job(s) to fit my training so that I wouldn’t have to do double/triple days before and after work, and we’d have more time together in the morning and evenings during the week.”

In addition to making sacrifices to help meet the love language needs of loved ones, one important thing that Manis has learned is that expressions of love are interpreted differently by different individuals, and what works for one person in a relationship isn’t necessarily going to work for the other. Manis’ love languages are acts of service and quality time, while his wife, Vicky, desires words of affirmation.

“If I try to express my love to her through an act of service, rather than through a compliment or encouragement, it falls flat,” he said. “Meeting the other person at their point of need (love language) can greatly reduce turmoil and a sense of unmet expectations. Unfortunately, I’ve had to learn this the hard way occasionally in our 39 years of marriage.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

Becca and Jonathan Finke recently celebrated a heartfelt baby shower with family and friends

Monday, September 11: Bread Zeppelin — Free Zeppelins for a Year at the new Knox location
Tuesday, September 12: Movies in the Park — The Mask at Griggs Park
Wednesday, September 13: Sunset & Vine Ladies Night at Postino; Pearl Jam at Dickies Arena
Thursday, September 14: Dallas’ Inaugural Lights of Hope at Griggs Park
Saturday, September 16: WRRC Run My Hood at Scott Manis’ home; first day of Autumn at the Arboretum